News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Red-faced Council chiefs have strenuously rejected the notion that sex is for sale at Antrim Civic Centre after pulling a racy rogue ad from the Borough's official website.

The Council site, for years the epitome of quiet, bureaucratic sobriety, offered services of a very different nature earlier this week when a trader offering the solution to 'erectile dysfunction' used the home page to tout its wares.

The Canadian company claimed to be offering savings of '80-90%' for online drugs - but even the promise of bargain basement prices was not enough to tempt the Council to turn a blind eye to the pharmaceutical pick-me-up.

Within hours of the advertisement appearing the Antrim branch of the online pharmacy was officially shut down - and the colourful advert replaced by a warning to surfers.
(Source:Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

The family of a man believed to have been murdered by the IRA almost 30 years ago face a month-long wait for confirmation his remains have been found.

Forensic investigators are continuing to dig at isolated bogland in Co Monaghan where partial human remains thought to be that of Charlie Armstrong were uncovered in a shallow grave.

The 57-year-old father-of-five, who vanished on his way to Mass from his home in Crossmaglen, south Armagh in 1981, was one of the so-called Disappeared, who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles.
(Source:UK Press Association)
Carlow

Minutes after being stung by a wasp, a Myshall man dropped dead in his garden on Sunday afternoon.

The community of Myshall has been left stunned by the tragic death of former hurling great John Butler, and the unimaginable circumstances surrounding his death.

The four-time u21 hurling championship winner died after being stung by a wasp, while weeding in his garden with his wife Imelda.

John’s allergy to wasp stings was well-known as it had happened several years ago but despite having anti-histamines in the house, there was simply no time to administer the drugs and the sting took horrific affect within minutes.
(Source:Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

The community of Loughduff turned out in force at the weekend to celebrate the rededication of St Joseph's Church.

After being closed for many months, the 100-year-old church was re-opened following a complete overhaul and the results were finally unveiled at the mass of rededication on Saturday night.

Bishop Colm O'Reilly celebrated the mass with Canon Owen Devaney, Parish Priest of Mullahoran and con-celebrants Frs. Bernard O' Reilly, Jim Brady, Eamon Lynch, Brian Brady, Tomsie Smith and Kevin Fay. On the night, Bishop Colm O'Reilly spoke of the strong community ties in the parish of Mullahoran and quoted from Canon Edward Boylan's famous book on the parish.
(Source:Anglo Celt)

Clare

With the appointment of Colm McCarthy to chair a new review group on State assets, concerns have been raised that Shannon Airport could be sold, to plug the gaping holes in Ireland’s finances.

Any move to dispose of Shannon would be sure to face opposition in the Mid-West, with fears that the airport being run for the benefit of private interests, rather than the region, could have serious knock-on consequences.

Last Thursday, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan announced Mr McCarthy’s appointment and an interim list was published of 28 commercial State bodies to be reviewed.

As well as the Dublin Airport Authority (which also has control of Cork and Shannon), some of the other bodies included are Irish Rail, Bord na Móna, An Post, RTÉ and Coillte.

The group is due to report at the end of the year and Mr McCarthy said that at that stage, it would explain its recommendations.
(Source:Clare Champion)

Cork

The injuries suffered by a 26-year-old truck driver when he was assaulted while trying to break up a fight were likely to have contributed to his death from a brain injury just over two weeks later, an inquest at Cork City Coroner’s Court heard.

Denis Nolan Jnr from Richard Rice Place in Glanworth, Co Cork, complained of headaches and pains in his neck after he was knocked unconscious in an assault in Glanworth village in the early hours of October 27th 2008.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said Mr Nolan suffered dissections of arteries in his neck which led to bleeding into the base of his brain.
(Source:Irish Examiner)

Derry

A Derry man who received a death threat from RAAD has claimed to the 'Journal' that the PSNI asked him to provide the time and location of a meeting they advised him to have with the vigilante group.
The man said he told police he may as well "paint a target" on his head if he went through with it.

"I haven't slept since all of this happened," the man said.' "I haven't stopped drinking. "When the police told me about the threat they talked to me about setting up a meeting with a community leader so I could speak to RAAD. They asked me for the time and location of the meeting.